"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." – John Wesley

One of the main reasons I want to live a simpler life is so I have time to help people. When your life is too busy for you to even take care of yourself, it’s difficult to make time for other people. I cut out some non-essentials so I have time to volunteer, live as environmentally friendly as I can and to be there for friends and family.

The rush of our society makes us more self-centered than we want to be. I see rude behavior all the time. Now, I don’t think most people mean to be rude. But, they are so frazzled they aren’t thinking about the other people. They are in line fuming and mumbling under their breath. All they know is some extremely slow person is fumbling with their checkbook and making them late. There is less eye contact and less smiles.

And when life is flying by, it is hard to see the person in need living near you. When you are just trying to keep your head above water, it is hard to help another person swim.

What are some ways you can slow down enough to notice the world around you? How can you make kind gestures and smiles as you go throughout your day, busy or not? How can you make the people you come in contact with feel better than before they saw you? How can you make a difference where you are right now?